Words from the Saints -- September 30, 2021

"He who has genuinely renounced worldly things, and lovingly and sincerely serves his neighbor, is soon set free from every passion and made a partaker of God’s love and knowledge." --St. Maximus the Confessor

"In your struggle to acquire every virtue and to fulfill every commandment, always seek 'the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.'" --St. Mark the Ascetic

"Even the saints of God were at times overcome with diabolical despair and despondency. What, therefore, can we sinners expect? O, the enemy often wounds us with the wrath, humiliation, and cruel despondency of the heart! We must continually turn to God and be every moment with Him, lest we be besieged by the wrath and despondency of the enemy... My life is Christ, the Beloved of all." --St. John of Kronstadt

"What I see around me would drive me insane if I did not know that no matter what happens, God will have the last word." --St. Paisios of Mt. Athos

"Whoever does not want to know the will of God is mentally walking a path next to a cliff, and easily falls with any wind. If he is praised, he is proud. If he is rebuked he is angry. If he eats pleasant food, he is drawn into bodily passions. When he suffers he weeps. When he knows something, he wants to show that he knows. When he doesn't understand, he pretends to understand. When he is rich he puts on airs. When he is poor, he is a hypocrite. When he is full, he is bold. When he fasts he is vainglorious. When he is denounced he loves to argue, while he looks on those who forgive him as fools." --St. Mark the Ascetic